Socket and plug switch



May 6, 1941. P. FUCHS SOCKET AND PLUG SWITGH Filed Sept. 23, 1938INVENTOR Patented May 6, 194 1 Philip Fuchs, Detroit, Mich, assignor oftwelve and one-half per cent to Howard H. McLain, Detroit, and twelveand one-half per cent to Jack H. Miller, Walled Lake, Mich.

Application September as, 1938, Serial No. 231,446

. 1 Claim.

My invention relates to electrical connections and has among its objectsand advantages the provision of an improved socket and plug switch.

An object of my invention is to provide a socket and plug combination inwhich the parts are so devised as to facilitate connection. Means are incorporated Ior yieldingly latching the two parts into connected relationso as to prevent accidental disconnection. In addition, the socket andplug embody a novel switch which may be opened or closed through mererotation of one part relatively to the other part to the end that thecircuit may be opened or closed with the two parts in connectedrelation. The socket is characterized by a bore for the reception of theplug prong provided with contacts 'for connection ,with an electric cordwith the bore and the prong so designed as to facilitate'insertion oithe prong into the bore. I provide means for indicating the on and offposition of the plug.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a. longitudinal sectional view iilus trating the socket andplug in connected relation;

Figure 2 is a similar view with the socket and plug rotated 90 abouttheir longitudinal axes;

Figure 3 is an end view of the plug;

Figure 4 is an end view of one part of the socket;

Figure 5 is a sectional view alongthe line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an end view of the fore-end oi the socket;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the socket contact strip; and c Figure8 is a perspective view 'of one of the contact strips associated withthe plug.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention, I make use of asocket Ill provided with a screw contact sleeve l2 adapted forconnection with conventional lock sockets. Socket III is provided withslots H and I8 for the reception of contact strips l8 and 20,respectively. Contact strip 20 is provided with a hook 22 which hooksover the end of the wall 24, which wall is recessed at 26 and 28 foraccommodating the hook. I recess the outer face of the socket in at 30for partly housing the sleeve l2 and one end of the sleeve abuts theshoulder 32.

Contact strip 20 is bowed at '34 to extend ears arranged in electricalconducting relation with the contact 20, see Fig. 1. Socket It includesa bore 46 for slidably receiving the prong 40. Cone tact strip l8includes a reach 48 extending across the face 50 of the socket l0 andprovided with an opening for the reception of a screw 52 molded in theend wall 54 of the socket. A cap 56 is bored at 58 for the reception ofa nut 60 having threaded relation with the screw 52. One end of the nut60 presses the reach 48 against the face for securing the contact l8,while the nut includes a flange 82 which presses the cap 56 against theendo! the socket III for securing the two parts in connected relation.Flange 62 constitutes an electrical contact.

Contact I8 is bowed at 84 to extend through a slot 88 in the wall 68 forbringing the contact into conducting relation with the contact strip 10anchored to the prong l0.

Screw-52 includes a head 12 positioned inside a,

split cup 14 arranged to have frictional connection with the head I6 ofa shank 18 molded in the prong 40. The screw 52 extends through anopening in the split cup I4 and the head 12 of the screw holds the cupagainst the wall 54 for for anchoring purposes. Head 76 is aligned withthe split cup 14 and enters therein as the plug 40 is pushed home in thebore 48. Theirictional' relation between the split cup and the head issuch as to efl'ectively hold the plug 42 in connected relation with thesocket It to prevent accidental disconnection of the two parts.

Contact strips 38 and 10 are molded into the I prong 40 and include keys80 molded into the material of the prong. Each contact strip 88 and 10includes a right-angular bend 82 provided with an opening 84 for thereception oi. a screw 86 threaded into a sleeve 88 molded into the rib80 of the cap 82 of the plug. These contact,

strips are identical in construction and are made secure in the samemanner. Tightening of the screws 86 press the right-angular bends 82firmly against the faces 94 of the ribs for connecting the prong 48 withthe cap 62. Screws 86 also constitute connecting means for the electricwires of the conventional plug which is threaded 7 through the opening96 in the cap 82.

Referring to Figure 5, the contact strips 38 and I0 lie within the crosssectional contour of the plug 40 and have depressions I08 for thereception of ribs 98 formed in the bows 34 and 64 of the contact stripsl8 and 20. Contacts 38 and 10 are positioned at diametrically oppositepoints on the prong 40, while the prong is provided with diametricallyopposite recesses I02 for the reception of the ribs I on the contacts I0and 20 when the plug 42 is rotated 90 relatively to the socket I0.Contacts I0 and 20 are associated as to have pressure relation with theprong 40.

' Thus the ribs I00 will snap into the depressions 00 in one position ofthe cap 92. In another position of the cap 92, the ribs I00 will snapinto the recesses I02. With the prong 40 rotated suificiently tartobring the recesses I02 into registration with the ribs Il0 the circuitwill be broken.

Rotation of the cap 02 sufflciently far to bring the strips II and 20into contacting relation with the strips 30 and will close the circuit.The circuit may be brokenby pulling the plug 42 out of connectedrelation with the socket. I0 in lieu of breaking the circuit throughrotation of the plug. Figure 1 illustrates the socket I0 as including asmall projection I04 and thecap 82 provided with a similar projectionI06. Rotation of the plug 42 for bringing the projection I00 intoregistration with the projection I04 indicates a closed circuit. Whenthe plug 42 is rotated suiflciently far to bring the ribs 90 intoregistration with the recesses I02, resistance against further rotationwill indicate a broken circuit. The position oi the prong I06 at thistime provides a visual indicator for determining a broken circuit.

Prong 40 fits snugly'inside the bore 40 but may be withdrawn easilyafter the head I0 has been pulled out of connected relation with thesplit cup 'I4.-- The split cup I4 has such holding relation with thehead I0 as to prevent the assembly of Figure 1 to be positionedvertically with no danger oi the socket I0 separating from the plug 42under normal loads. Socket ID as well as the plug 42 is formed ofinsulating material. a

In the face I00 or the socket I0 I provide a circular groove I I0 torthe reception of a ring H2 which has illuminating properties to providelocation means .in. the dark. Face I08 includes a gentle curvature 4 fordirecting the head I0 into the bore 40. My invention embodies a socketand plug combination characterizedby a single prong which may easily beinserted in the one bore 46. In the dark, positioning of the head I8inside the illuminated circle II2 facilitates insertion of the prong 40.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate myinvention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adaptthe same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim: 1

In a socket and plug switch, a socket part having a. bore and contactsfor connection with a source of current and extending into said bore, aplug part having a prong provided with contact strips each having aterminal for connection with a wire of an electric cord, said contactstrips being arranged to engage said first-named contacts when saidprong ispushed home in said bore, said prong fitting snugly in said borebut being rotatable therein for bringing the contact strips into andout'oi engagement with saidflrstnamed contacts, said prong being movablelongitudinally oi the bore to permit connection and disconnection ofsaid socket part and the plug part, said contact strips lying within thecrosssectional contour of the pron! to permita snug fit between the wallof said bore and the prong, said bore at its prong entrance and beingflared to facilitate insertion oi. the prong, and an 11- luminationmeans arranged concentrically the flared end of said bore.

Y PHILIP FUCHS.

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